The 15th annual Twin Cities Jazz Festival, which takes place June 27-29 in Mears Park in St. Paul, has announced its full schedule. It features acclaimed national acts and a strong lineup of local and regional artists.

In a concert Sunday at the University of Minnesota’s Ted Mann Concert Hall, Mexican singer Lila Downs will celebrate the life, art and career of her father, Allen Downs, who taught for more than 20 years and started the university’s first international study program. After the show, an exhibition on her father’s work will be held at the Katherine E. Nash Gallery.

The list of great jazz gigs in the Twin Cities this weekend keeps growing. On Saturday, Chris Bates’ Red Five, the band led by the popular bassist, is booked for a show at Jazz at Studio Z. The band also features saxophonists Chris Thomson and Brandon Wozniak, trumpeter Zack Lozier and the composer’s brother, JT Read more →

Lulu’s Playground photo courtesy of Adam Meckler It’s mail time, and in my inbox is a new tune from Lulu’s Playground, the innovative Twin Cities quartet that features guitarist Evan Montgomery, cellist Cory Grossman, accordionist Steven Hobert and trumpeter Adam Meckler. When the group debuts its new CD, “Shadow Voices,” tonight and Saturday at St. Read more →